U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: THERE ARE THINGS ARMENIA AND TURKEY HAVE COMMITTED TO DO
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 17, 2010 – 12:48 AMT 07:48 GMT
The U.S. Department of State assesses the recent discussions with
Armenian and Turkish top officials as "very meaningful."
"We continue to try to find the right formula working with both
countries. And clearly, we’re also supporting the Minsk process
regarding Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. We are – the process
has stalled from last fall when the countries signed the protocols
on normalization. We want to see Turkey and Armenia ratify those
protocols, normalize relations, open borders. That has significant
benefits for both countries. And we continue to work with both
to see if we can find the right formula, the right timing to see
ratification and the benefits that come with ratification," said
Mr. Phillip Crowley, State Department spokesman.
"We continue to work to see how we can – I mean, there are things that
both countries have committed to do. There are difficult processes
working with their respective parliaments. We have the same experience
in this country where the Executive Branch can make a commitment that
has to work with Congress in terms of implementing that or getting
ratification of that. We know this is a difficult process. We know
it involves emotion on both sides, risk on both sides, and we will
continue to work constructively with Armenia and Turkey to try to
see this process through," he said.